WO1999005643A2 - Chip module, module and method for producing a module, chip card - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a module, in particular designed to be used in chip cards, consisting of a chip module including an integrated switching circuit and a transmission module comprising at least a transmitting element for data and/or energy transmission between the integrated switching circuit and an external appliance or vice-versa. The chip module and the transmission module each have contact elements used for their mutual electrical connection, the chip module (3) contact elements (11) and the transmission module (2) contact elements (7) being assembled by blocking the mutually corresponding contact elements (7, 11).

Description

Chip module, module and method for producing a module and a chip card

The invention relates to a chip module, a module and a method for producing a module and a chip card according to the preamble of patent claim 1, patent claim 4, patent claim 11 and patent claim 14.

From DE 195 00 925 AI a chip card for contactless data transmission is known, which has a chip module with an integrated circuit and a transmission module with at least one transmission element for data and / or energy transmission between the integrated circuit and an external device. In a first step, the transmission module is integrated into the card body to form the chip card. In a second step, the chip module is then inserted into a recess in the card body created for this purpose and connected to the same. For electrical coupling of the chip module on the transmission module, the corresponding contact elements of the chip module on the one hand and the transmission module on the other hand are placed against one another. The electrical contact between the corresponding contact elements can be produced by soldering, by introducing a conductive adhesive or an elastically deformable body between the contact elements. These known types of contacting are relatively complex and are subject to a limited lifespan due to the high bending stress on the chip card.

Furthermore, it is known to connect a chip module and a transmission module to form a module and keep it ready as a semi-finished product for producing a contactless chip card, the corresponding contact elements of the chip module on the one hand and the transmission module on the other hand being electrically connected to one another by soldering or introducing a conductive adhesive. The chip and the transmission module are attached to a common carrier, which is embedded between at least two layers of the card body, so that the chip card is produced after the layers have been laminated.

A disadvantage of the known type of connection of soldering is that, due to the high temperature load, the transmission module, which is made of a thermoplastic, is very heavily stressed, so that the same can deform. Furthermore, the soldering process is relatively complex since additional soldering stop agents have to be applied to the transmission module.

A disadvantage of the electrically conductive adhesive is that its conductivity declines as it ages. Furthermore, the thickness of the electrically conductive adhesive is difficult to adjust to a constant value in terms of cessation. However, the setting of a constant distance between the corresponding contact elements is necessary so that the transverse extent of the module in this contact area matches the depth of the recess in the card body provided for this purpose.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a chip module, a module and a method for producing a module, so that reliable and safe electrical contact between a chip module and another component is ensured.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to design a chip card in such a way that simple and inexpensive production is made possible.

To achieve this object, the invention has the features of patent claim 1, patent claim 4, patent claim 11 and patent claim 14.

The particular advantage of the chip module according to the invention is that the contact elements can only be connected mechanically, namely by jamming, with corresponding contact elements of a transmission module. No other connection means are necessary. This creates a secure and permanent contact, which can also be designed so that later external forces acting on them can be absorbed.

The particular advantage of the module according to the invention is that by jamming the contact elements of the Chip module with the corresponding contact elements of the transmission module a simple and reliable electrical contact is created. The contacting also serves to mechanically connect the chip module to the transmission module. The contact elements are advantageously not exposed to any temperature stress. The connection is made solely by using a contact pressure.

In a simple manner, a module can be produced as a semi-finished product, which always has the same design. This is achieved in particular in that the jamming itself is generated by the contact elements. No further additional materials or components are required to bring about the electrical contacting. The quality and design of the contacting is determined solely by the materials of the contact elements themselves.

According to a further development of the invention, the chip module can have contact lugs protruding in a contact area, which can be inserted through an already existing opening in the carrier layer of the transmission module, then deflected and pressed onto the transmission module with the chip module resting flat on the transmission module in the direction of the contact elements. This creates a secure clamping connection.

According to a special embodiment of the invention, the contact elements of the chip module are each designed as crown-shaped cutting contacts, with tapering teeth of the cutting contact being able to be pushed through a carrier layer of the transmission module. By deflecting and pressing it in the direction of the contact element of the over- transmission module, a flat press fit of the prongs is created on the contact elements of the transmission module.

According to a development of the invention, the contact elements of the chip module are part of a metallic chip carrier layer. The chip carrier layer can preferably be formed as a sheet metal part, the shape of the contact element being able to be produced simply by cutting or bending tools.

According to a development of the invention, the chip module is connected to the same on a side facing away from the contact elements of the transmission module, so that the application of an intermediate insulation layer is not necessary

The advantage of the chip card according to the invention is that a defined elevation of the module is ensured, so that the recess in the card body can be adapted accordingly. The fact that the chip carrier layer can be pressed onto the transmission carrier layer from the rear, the chip m engaging a corresponding recess in the transmission module layer, creates a module with a comparatively small transverse extent in the chip area.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a partial longitudinal section through a module, FIG. 2 shows a top view of a transmission module,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a chip module according to a first exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a contact element according to FIG. 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a chip module with contact elements according to a second embodiment and

6 shows a longitudinal section through a chip card with a module according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a module 1, which is composed of a transmission module 2 and a chip module 3. The connection between the transmission module 2 and the chip module 3 takes place in a contacting area thereof.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the transmission module 2 consists of a transmission carrier layer 4, on which a transmission element 5 is applied as a structured, in particular etching, printing or laser-structured. Coil is printed or applied as a wire-wound coil. The transmission element 5 is designed as an antenna and is used for data and / or energy transmission between a chip 6 shown in FIG. 3 and an external device. The transmission element 5 having a plurality of turns has flat contact elements 7 at its ends. Alternatively, the contact elements 7 can also be round or raised. To hold the chip 6, the transmission module 2 has a cutout 8, which is located adjacent to the contacting area formed by the contact elements 7. The transfer carrier layer 4 consists of a flexible plastic material made of PVC, PC or ABS with a thickness of at least 150 μm, preferably 200 to 300 μm.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, a chip module 3 consists of a thin cuboid-shaped chip carrier layer 10, which is preferably formed from a metallic material. The integrated circuit 6, the electrical connections of which are formed by contact elements 11, is applied to the chip carrier layer 10. The contact elements 11 are designed as crown-shaped cutting contacts 12 with prongs 13 protruding at right angles and tapering. The contact elements 11 are formed by appropriate cutting and bending tools. The contact elements 11 are separated and insulated from one another by punched-out portions 9. The chip module 3 can be kept as an intermediate product on a roll.

To establish an electrical and mechanical connection between the chip module 3 and the transmission module 2, the transmission carrier layer 4 and the chip carrier layer 10 are placed in such a way that the integrated circuit 6 is aligned with the recess 8 and the teeth 13 of the cutting contacts 12 correspond to the contact elements 7 on the Apply to the back of the transfer carrier layer 4. By exerting a force in the direction of the contact elements 7, the prongs 13 of the contact elements 11 are pressed through the transfer carrier layer 4 or through the corresponding contact elements 7, so that the transfer carrier layer 4 and the chip carrier layer 10 lie flat against each other. The prongs 13 are bent over by suitable bending tools and pressed onto the surface of the corresponding contact element 7. The prongs 13 lie flat on the contact elements 7, forming a press fit. The press fit is increased in that the thickness of the prongs 13 is substantially greater than the thickness of the contact elements 7, preferably twice as large as the transverse extent of the contact elements 7. A permanent clamping connection is created between the contact elements 7 and 11, whereby a sublimity of the module 1, which is predetermined by the thickness of the contact elements 7 and 11, is formed.

Alternatively, the chip carrier layer 10 can only have incisions, in particular cruciform incisions. Only when the connection between the chip module 3 and the transmission module 2 is established is the contact element 11 formed by tipping or pivoting the tongues 13 formed by the incisions from a plane common to the chip carrier layer 10, which then corresponds to the contact element 7 in contact brought. In this embodiment, the formation of the cutting contacts 12 thus only takes place immediately when the chip module 3 is connected to the transmission module 2. The chip module 3 can thus be kept essentially without protruding contact elements 11, so that the manufacturing outlay is reduced.

According to a further embodiment of the chip module 3 according to FIG. 5, the contact elements are designed as contact lugs 15. The contact lugs 15 are each arranged on an edge 17 of a chip carrier layer 16 corresponding to a corresponding contact area of the transmission module. net. As can be seen from Figure 5, the contact lugs 15 are triangular. Alternatively, they can also have an arcuate shape. It is important that the area of the contact elements 15 is so large that a sufficiently large contact area is formed after the same has been bent, which lies flat on the corresponding contact element of the transmission module.

A slot 18 separates the contact elements 15 from one another so that there is no electrical connection between them. By pivoting the contact lugs 15 around an edge (not shown) of the transmission module, a clamping electrical and at the same time mechanical connection can be created between the chip carrier layer 16 and the transmission module.

Alternatively, the contact elements of the chip module can also be formed by providing edge-side incisions in a cuboid-shaped chip carrier layer, so that less material is required. Furthermore, the contact elements could also be formed by contact tabs which protrude vertically within the chip carrier layer and which can be plugged in by a corresponding slit in the transmission module layer and which are in contact with the contact elements of the transmission module.

Alternatively, the formation of at least one contact element can be formed by the course of the insulating slot, so that the manufacturing outlay can be further reduced. The contact elements can therefore be arranged at any point on the chip carrier layer, but preferably in an edge region. They are formed as part of the chip carrier layer, so that the chip carrier layer has a double function. It serves for one as a carrier layer for the chip and the other to form contact elements. The chip carrier layer is formed from an electrically conductive material, preferably from sheet metal.

The modules described above each serve as semi-finished products for the production of a chip card 19, as shown in FIG. 6. The chip card 19 can be produced in the laminating technology, an inner core layer 20 adjoining the transfer carrier layer 4 and the chip carrier layer 10 in each case. The core layers 20 each have recesses 21 corresponding to the elevations of the transfer carrier layer 4 and the chip carrier layer 10. On the outside, the core layers 20 each have a cover layer 22, the outer surfaces of which are preferably provided with an imprint. The core layers 20 and the cover layers 22 can consist of an ABS, PC or PVC material.

Claims

Claims: 1. Chip module, in particular for using m chip cards, with an integrated circuit and with contact elements for electrical connection to contact elements of a transmission module having a transmission element, characterized in that the contact elements (11) of the chip module (3) are designed such that they are connected to one another by jamming with the corresponding contact elements (7) of the transmission module (2). 2. Chip module according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact elements (11) of the chip module (3) are each designed to be bendable in such a way that they bear against the corresponding contact elements (7) of the transmission module (2) with the formation of a contact force. 3. Chip module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a chip carrier layer (10) of the chip module (3) has only slots or incisions to form contact lugs (13), such that after bending the contact lugs (13) a protruding cutting contact ( 12) can be formed. 4.Module, in particular for the use of m chip cards, consisting of a chip module with an integrated circuit and a carrier layer on the one hand and a transmission module with a carrier layer and at least one transmission element for data and / or energy transmission between the integrated circuit and an external device or vice versa, on the other hand, the chip module and the transmission module each having contact Telements have for electrical connection to one another, characterized in that at least one contact element (7, 11) of the chip module (3) and / or of the transmission module (2) has means for clamping such that the mutually corresponding contact elements (7, 11) of the Chip module (3) and the transmission module (2) are clamped together. 5. Module according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact element (11) of the chip module (3) or the transmission module (2) has at least one protruding contact nose (15) which can be pushed through an opening in the adjacent carrier layer (4) and in a contact position is automatically clamped on the corresponding contact element (7). 6. Module according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact element (11) of the chip module (3) or the transmission module (2) has at least one protruding cutting contact (12), such that the cutting contact (12) through the adjacent carrier layer (4th ) can be pushed through and can be connected in a contacting position, bearing against the corresponding contact element (7), in a clamping and electrically conductive manner. 7. Module according to claim 6, characterized in that the contact elements (11) of the chip module (3) each as a crown-shaped cutting contacts (12) with protruding teeth (13) are formed, which in the contacting position bend the corresponding contact element (7) while bending the same. 8. Module according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the chip module (3) has a chip carrier layer (10) consisting of a metallic material, the contact elements (11) of the chip module (3) in each case in one piece with the chip carrier layer (10 ) are connected. 9. Module according to claim 8, characterized in that the chip carrier layer (10) consists of a sheet metal material, the contact elements (11) being formed by punching out. 10.Module according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the contact elements (11) on the edge of the chip module (3) are arranged as projecting contact lobes. 11.Method for producing a module, wherein a chip module having an integrated circuit, a carrier layer and at least one contact element with at least one transmission element, a carrier layer and at least one contact element having transmission module, which is used for data and / or energy transmission between the integrated circuit and a serves external device, is electrically connected, characterized in that in a contacting area at least one contact element (7, 11) of the chip module (3) or the transmission module (2) at least partially through the carrier layer of the adjacent transmission module (2) or chip module (3) inserted and then bent to the flat contact with the corresponding contact element (7, 11). 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the integrated circuit (6) is connected to a metallic chip carrier layer (10) to form the chip module (3) and that in the chip carrier layer (10) projecting contact elements (11) are embossed. 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the electrically conductive transmission element (5) is structured as a coil on a transmission carrier layer (4). 14. Chip card for contactless data transmission with a chip module having an integrated circuit, with a transmission module having at least one transmission element for data and / or energy transmission between the integrated circuit and an external device, the chip module and the transmission module each having contact elements for electrical connection with each other, characterized in that the chip module (3) and the transmission module (2) is designed as a module (1) combined by means of a clamping contact (12) on the contact elements (7, 11) and that on both sides of the Connect module (1) card layers. 15. Chip card according to claim 14, characterized in that at least on one side of the module (1) is followed by an inner card layer (20) with a recess (21) corresponding to the elevations of the module (1). 16. Chip card according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that at least on one side of the module (1) an inner core layer (20) and adjacent to this a cover layer (22) can be applied by lamination.